Is haloperidol an alternative to risperidol for treating autism?

Sometimes : Both medications are considered antipsychotics. Risperdal is the drug that is fda approved for use in autism. There are many other drugs, Haldol (haloperidol) being one of them, that may be used to control mood swings and/ or aggressive and self injurious behavior. While the others can be helpful they are used off label which means the fda has not given its approval yet. This practice is not uncommon.